Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State and price range tackle final week, Illinois Republicans, although disheartened by a few of his remarks, plan to cooperate with Democrats to stability the price range with tax cuts, cut back authorities spending, and assist President Donald Trump’s migrant insurance policies.
Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, stated many Republicans felt Pritzker’s verbal assaults on Trump and Elon Musk, references to Nazis, and calling Pritzker’s detractors “backseat bellyachers” was “completely disrespectful.”
Some Republicans have been additionally involved about Pritzker’s failure to completely talk about the state’s deficit and the rising cash points introduced on by waning pandemic reduction funding. Notably, they are saying they’re apprehensive about excessive taxes and the price of dwelling driving companies and residents out of the state.
“We now have among the many highest property taxes in the entire nation and have to have a property tax reform to present individuals a break,” stated state Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield. “I did respect the truth that he says he will reduce on the free well being look after noncitizens as a result of proper now even our personal residents cannot afford well being care. We now have to have an setting that creates jobs, that retains individuals right here, that makes individuals wish to come and reside in Illinois.”
Proposed cuts to well being look after migrants fall beneath the Well being Advantages for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program, which gives medical protection to adults ages 42-64 no matter their immigration standing. As of now, the Illinois Division of Healthcare and Household Companies web site states it isn’t accepting any new enrollment functions into the HBIA program.
Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, R-Morrisonville, says he’s “utterly opposed” to Pritzker’s price range proposal, citing a further $2 billion in spending to the already huge $3.2 billion deficit. In an official launch reacting to the tackle, he criticized Pritzker for his spending on “unlawful migrant applications” which “continues funding welcome shelters at taxpayers’ expense.”
“The governor’s proposed $55 billion price range is the most important in Illinois historical past – an unprecedented 38% enhance since he took workplace. Along with this huge spending, the price range isn’t balanced, leaving a $425 million deficit primarily based on present income numbers,” Rosenthal stated in his written assertion.
With a give attention to unlawful immigration and lowering monetary assist of residents from exterior of Illinois and non-U.S. residents inside Illinois, McClure believes that acknowledging these points, which align with President Trump’s initiatives, will assist maintain cash inside the state for Illinois residents first.
Regardless of Pritzker’s commentary – which included a line calling his opponents’ proposals “magic bean fixes,” Hammond and McClure say they look ahead to cooperating with Democratic lawmakers.
“I feel one of many issues that as we go ahead as a Home and Senate is that we are able to discover a strategy to work collectively,” stated Hammond. “I feel we will have plenty of priorities that we are able to discover frequent floor. If we will be respectful of one another, I feel that that is going to serve us effectively.”
Republicans say they hope for higher inclusion in price range talks and transparency in state spending. McClure cited previous successes in talks with Democrats as hopeful proof they’re going to have a seat on the price range negotiation desk.
“We had nice negotiations the final couple of years with the Senate Democrats and we acquired a few of our factors put into the price range,” stated McClure. “We wish to be there on the finish of the day to have the ability to signify our constituents for a very balanced price range that offers our residents some reduction.”
Some Republicans praised Pritzker’s proposals to chop prices and consolidate departments. The governor lately issued an govt order combining the Division of Behavioral Well being and the Division of Substance Abuse beneath the Division of Human Companies. Authorities consolidation and cutbacks have been a sizzling subject within the information currently, with the Trump administration’s aggressive strikes to cut back the scale of the federal workforce.
“I feel that we are able to start to do extra of that and see extra authorities efficiencies and never simply transparency…we’ll get a greater bang for our buck,” stated Hammond. “We cannot see all of his [Trump’s] insurance policies carried out by any stretch of the creativeness, however I am simply hopeful that if they’re good insurance policies and they’re good for the state of Illinois, individuals will not flip their noses up at them simply due to who the creator is.”
